State Farm® – 1920s & 1930s

Behind every great man, there’s a great woman. Well, at least that’s what the old saying says and it was certainly true with State Farm. In a frustrated moment, Company founder George Jacob "G.J." Mecherle threw his early plans for State Farm into a cold fireplace. His wife, Mae, pulled them out and encouraged him to pursue his dream — to create a company that offered insurance at a fair price, with fair claim settlement.

On June 7, 1922, Mecherle’s 45th birthday, G.J. and two associates, Minnie Jones and Verna Crusius, established State Farm in a temporary office in the Durley Building on Jefferson Street in Bloomington, IL. Mecherle sold the first auto policy to local farmer Henry Stubblefield. The semi-annual premium for Henry’s 1919 Hudson luxury car? $11.17.

The State Farm agent has been at the forefront of our business all along. At our first agency convention in 1925, there were 175 agents in attendance. Today, more than 17,000 State Farm agents serve our customers in communities across the United States and Canada.

From the very beginning, State Farm has led the way as a safety champion. In the 1920s, education efforts encouraged customers to develop safe habits to protect them from harm. These early efforts marked the beginning of a long and passionate commitment to safety — on the road and on the home front.

The well-being of our employees is a top priority and always has been. In the 1930s, a medical division was added to the Company’s personnel department. The division’s milk giveaway program was designed to improve the health of underweight, anemic employees during the Great Depression.

The first State Farm Road Atlas was published in 1937, marking the beginning of an enduring tradition still treasured by our customers.

Welcome, ladies. In 1939, Lauretta Stone helped her husband study for his agent’s exam. Then, she decided to take one, too. Lauretta became one of the Company’s first female agents and earned membership in the “High Toppers Club” for top State Farm agents.

Hello, Canada. Thanks to the efforts of Canadian general insurance agent R.E. Patterson, State Farm crossed the border in 1938 and opened a branch office in Toronto, Ontario. Today, State Farm serves customers throughout Alberta, New Brunswick, and Ontario.